Tag Archives: Golden Heart

Yesterday many writers received “the call” from RWA that their book finaled in the Rita and Golden Heart Contests from the Romance Writers of America. Romance Writers of America (RWA), the trade association for aspiring and published romance fiction authors, will be announcing the 2013 RITA® and Golden Heart® Award finalists on March 26. The RITA — the highest award of distinction in romance fiction — recognizes excellence in published romance novels and novellas. The Golden Heart recognizes excellence in unpublished romance manuscripts.

The results of the Kiss of Death Chapter’s Daphne Du Maurier Award for
Excellence in Mystery/Suspense are in. On behalf of KOD and the Daphne
Committee, I am pleased to announce the winners of our 2011 Unpublished Contest:

Today is a big day for Romance Writers of America. The finalist for the Ritas and Golden Hearts will be announced. But before it’s made public, those fortunate authors will be notified by phone. According to the RWA website:

Notification will be sent to finalists by two-day delivery. Phone calls to notify finalists will also commence. Release of official finalist list on RWA website by 2 p.m. CT.

So today there are a lot of anxious writers out there clutching their cellphones and waiting to hear the words they’ve worked so hard for. Across the internet, there are several sites available for people to post when the finalist is notified and I’d like to make this blog also available.

Golden Heart

If you’ve received the call, or know of someone who has, please feel free to post their name, the name of the book and the category.

Congratulations to all who took that big step to even put your work out there to be judged. My hat’s off to you.

Bottom Line: There’s all different ways to win and may this day be a stepping stone for many.

After all the parties on Friday, everyone is moving kind of slow. There’s still plenty of workshops and the remaining publishers offer up free books at their author signings (NAL, Sourcebooks, St. Martin’s Press, Grand Central). One of the workshops, Talking the Talk: Writing Historical Dialogue, was about giving tips for keeping character’s conversations from sounding artificial or antique. Tip…remember to be consistent and be careful of anachronisms because someone will catch your mistakes. Forsooth!

.

.

Jacqui Lyonelle, Kathy Crouch, Dawn Cartier, Devon Alexander

I was on a panel with author Rebecca York, Borders Romance Buyer Sue Grimshaw and Circle of Seven CEO Sheila Clover English. We discussed Successful Promotion: Saving Time and Money While Reaching Your Goal. Sheila’s best tip…Be consistent, be honest, be passionate. I couldn’t agree more.

..

.

.

Cassondra Murray and Dianna Love

Now it was time for the event everyone gets all dolled up for…The Rita Awards. First the Golden Heart is given out for unpublished romance fiction manuscripts and the Rita’s for published romance fiction novels. The emcee this year was Sabrina Jeffries who’s running gag was her trying to snatch a Rita from whoever was near. There were even some photos of her sneaking into Nora Roberts’ home for one of her’s because she has so many, it wouldn’t be missed.

.

Slides were shown of past Rita events and you could hear the oohs and ahs as people remembered when they happened. Because it was the 30th Anniversary of RWA, there was also a dinner this year (while everything was lovely…please…no more chicken for a while).

.

Now it was time for the awards. And the winners were:

.

2010 Golden Heart Awards

.

Young Adult Romance

Unchosen by Erica O’Rourke

Inspirational Romance

Unforgiven by CJ Eernisse Chase

Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

A Place at the Table by Patricia O’Dea Rosen

Contemporary Series Romance

Fake Fiancee, Real Love by Cat Shield

Contemporary Series Romance Suspense/Adventure

See Jane Run by Angela Platt

Historical Romance

Between Heaven and Hell by Jacqui Nelson

Regency Historical Romance

A Most Improper Gentleman by Elizabeth Beatty

Paranormal Romance

Bloodborn: Book One in the Light Blade Series by Kylie Griffin

Romantic Suspense

The Yard Man by G. Jillian Stone

Contemporary Single Title Romance

Songbird by Lizbeth Selvig

.

RITA Awards

.

Young Adult Romance

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Inspirational Romance

The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander

Novel with Strong Romantic Element

The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O’Neal

Romance Novella

The Christmas Promise by Molly O’Keefe

Contemporary Series Romance

A Not-So-Perfect Past by Beth Andrews

Contemporary Series Romance Suspense/Adventure

The Soldier’s Secret Daughter by Cindy Dees

Historical Romance

Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas

Regency Historical Romance

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Paranormal Romance

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

Romantic Suspense

Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin

Best First Book

One Scream Away by Kate Brady

Contemporary Single Title Romance

Too Good to Be True by Kristen Higgins

.

.

Barbara Vey, Debbie Macomber, Barbara Bettis

.

Debbie Macomber was awarded the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. She looked lovely (and you’ll see why in the picture) as she talked about being dyslexic, starting her writing career on a rented typewriter and thanking all her agents (yes, she has several). It was announced that another Mrs. Miracle movie will be shown on Lifetime and Debbie will have her own line of yarn out soon. Amazing the empire that can grow out of writing a good story.

Nancy Berland and Lori Keizer

.

At the Sabrina Jeffries after party, I found out that I wasn’t the only one who wore matching outfits. Sabrina herself had a duplicate and so did Nancy Berland and Lori Keizer. I’m still waiting for Sabrina’s brother to send me the picture, but I thought we could play…Who Wore it Better?